Tea Thyme

There's nothing more soothing than a nice cup

of tea. But instead of dunking tea bags, why

not snip fresh herbs from your own special

tea garden? Summer is the perfect time to take

advantage of herbs, and you don't need a lot of space

for them. In fact you don't need a garden at all.

Whether you live in a city apartment or on a large

country lot, everything you need can be grown in a

container just outside your door. Here's a sample of

tried-and-true herbs especially for tea time:

Lemon thyme

The small green and white leaves of this herb have a

marvellous fragrance with a pleasing lemon flavour.

This spreading plant tumbles gently over the

container's edge and sports pale lilac flowers in the

summer. Use it in any recipe calling for lemon juice

or lemon zest.

Mint pineapple

This perennial mint has very pretty green and white

variegated leaves with long spikes of pale white or

cream flowers. As its name suggests, it has a pleasant

pineapple flavour, making the leaves ideal to add to

teas, fruit cups, and punches. Like all mints, it can be

an invasive plant in the garden and therefore makes a

good candidate for container growing.

Spearmint

This hardy perennial plant has light green, slightly

crinkled leaves with a strong minty scent. Spearmint

grows best in somewhat moist soil and can be

propagated by cuttings or division. Pick fresh leaves

and leafy stem tips for use at any time. For drying, it's

best to cut leaves just as flowering begins. Spearmint

leaves are excellent in teas and for flavouring

cold drinks. They also make a terrific mint sauce to

complement lamb.

Orange mint

Orange mint is very fragrant with a citrus-like scent.

The attractive green, branching stems are tinged with

red, as are the rounded dark green leaves.White and

pink flowers on short spikes bloom from mid- to late-summer. High in vitamins A

and C, you can use fresh leaves for

teas as well as for salads, desserts,

and garnishes.

Chamomile

Chamomile has dainty, daisy-like

white flowers with yellow centres set

atop thin stems of feathery green leaves.

The blooms appear from July to September.

Chamomile is a favourite herb for making tea. The

plant has a lovely aroma with the scent of apples.

Steep fresh or dried flowers in boiling water to make

a comforting tea to relax after a stressful day.

Lemon balm

Lemon balm, as the name suggests, tastes and smells

like lemon. This perennial plant produces shiny, oval

leaves with pretty scalloped edges and small, light blue

to white flowers that appear in midsummer. Used

throughout history as a medicinal herb, lemon balm

has mild sedative properties and makes a calming tea.

Fresh sprigs make for an attractive garnish on salads

and main dishes.

Stevia

Stevia is nature's remarkable herbal sugar substitute.

It's 100 times sweeter than sugar but without the

calories! Use fresh leaves in tea or dry and grind them

to use throughout the winter. A liquid sweetener can be made by adding one tablespoon of leaves per cup

of boiling water. Strain through a coffee filter and

refrigerate for up to two weeks. Stevia has an agreeable

flavour that never dominates or overwhelms.

For busy gardeners

For a no-fuss tea garden that's already planted for you,

check out Loblaws, Superstore, and other retailers

that sell President's Choice products. They offer a

great selection of container herb gardens grown by

Freeman Herbs of Beamsville, Ontario. I was

impressed with the selection and quality. For around

$20, why do it yourself?

Making herbal tea

The perfect cup of herbal tea refreshes and

heals while it quickens your senses with its

delicious warmth, taste, and aroma. Unlike

caffeinated black, green, or oolong teas, herbal

teas don't darken as they become stronger; they

usually remain light green or amber. Most herbal teas

are made from leaves or flowers using the infusion

method. Here's how:

For each cup of tea, place three teaspoons of

crushed fresh herbs or one teaspoon of dried herbs

in an infuser (a screw-top or hinged container with

pin-sized holes). Measure the water into a kettle,

bring to a boil, and pour into a pre-heated teapot.

Add the infuser and steep until the tea reaches the

desired strength.